Method and apparatus for the preparation of flanged conduit

ABSTRACT

Flanged conduit is prepared by forming a malleable conduit over a master or form employing a resiliently tensioned pivoted frusto-concial forming roll.

United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,762,204

Socier Oct. 2, 1973 [5 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE 2,998,839 9/1961lngwer 72/125 PREPARATION OF FLANGED CONDUIT 2,781,934 2/1957Caswell.... 72/125 682,725 9/1901 Loverm 113/120 AA [76] Inventor: JerryCurtis Socier, Essexville, Mich.

[221 Filed: Dec. 13, 1971 i Primary ExaminerCharles W. Lanham [21] p207,346 Assistant ExaminerM. J. Keenan [52] US. Cl 72/316, 72/208,72/452, 1 13/120 AA 51 Int. Cl 821:! 41 02 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search72/82, 86, 125, 208,

72/111, 216, 316, 322, 452; 113/120 AA Flanged conduit is prepared byforming a malleable conduit over a master or form employing aresiliently [56] References Cited tensioned pivoted frusto-concialforming roll.

UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,451,243 6/1969 Gallingcr 72/125 11 Claims, 4Drawing Figures METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PREPARATION OF FLANGEDCONDUIT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Often times it is desireable to forman integral flange on a conduit wherein the resultant flange isgenerally radially outwardly extending. Various methods and apparatusare available to accomplish such flanging or forming of a malleableconduit such as steel pipe and the like. Forging and rolling techniquesare satisfactory for the production of large quanties of flanged conduitof a single dimension and configuration. Often it is desireable toproduce small number of flanged or shaped conduit ends of differingshapes and forms.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved method andapparatus for flanging malleable conduit.

It is an object of this invention to provide a versatile, easilyoperated apparatus for the flanging of malleable conduit.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method of flangingmalleable conduit on conventional metal working equipment such as anengine lathe.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The apparatus of the invention is incooperative combination, a work holding means rotatably mounted on asupport means, means to rotate the work holding means. The work holdingmeans defining a bore passing there through and extending from a firstend generally to a second end of the work holding means. The bore beinggenerally coaxially disposed with the axis of rotation of the workholding means. The work holding means having attached there to apattern. The pattern having a pattern surface disposed adjacent thefirst end and remote from the second end, the pattern defining a patternbore generally coaxial with the axis of rotation of the work holdingmeans. The pattern surface having the configuration of the back face ofa desired flange. A forming roll retaining means positioned within thework holding means. The forming roll retaining means having first andsecond portions, the second portion having a forming roll rotatablysupported thereon. A pivot means joining first and second forming rollmeans portions permitting axial misalingment of the first and secondportions, means to selectively tension the forming roll support meanstoward the second end and means to axially displace the second portionof the forming roll support out of axial alignment with the firstportion there of.

The method of the present invention is a method of section view of anapparatus in accordance with the inflanging a hollow generallycylinderical conduit. The

steps of the method comprising rotatably supporting a hollowcylinderical conduit about a resiliently tensioned pivot, the pivotresiliently tensioned and moveable in an axial direction, rotating theconduit and applying a generally radial force to one inner edge there ofby means of a forming roll supported on a lever pivotally attached tosaid pivot and displacing said lever away from the axis of generationand rotation of said conduit until a flange of desired configuration isobtained.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING:

FIG. 1 is a schematic partly-in-section representation of an apparatusin accordance with the invention.

vention generally designated by the reference number 10, the apparatus10 comprises in cooperative combination a base or support bed 12 such asa lathe bed. A rotating means or head 14 such as a lathe head is affixedthe bed 12. A hollow spindle 16 is rotably supported and rotated by thehead 14. The spindle 16 has a first end 18 and a second end 20 anddefines therein a passage way or bore 22 extending from the first end 18to second end 20.

A work holding means or chuck 24 is affixed to the first end 18 of thespindle 16. The chuck 24 holds a pattern piece or master 26 having aface 28 remote from the second end 20 the face 28 having the desiredconfiguration of a flange to be prepared and a work piece 29 to beflanged. A forming roll support means 30 extends into and through thebore 22. The support means 30 comprises a first portion 32 positionedgenerally within the bore 22 and a second portion 34 external thereto.The portions 32 and 34 are pivotally affixed to each other by pivotmeans 35. A generally frustoconical forming roll 36 is rotatably mountedon the second portion 34 generally concentrically or coaxially with theportion 34. The smaller end of the roll 36 is generally adjacent theface 28. The first portion 32 terminates generally adjacent second end20 of the spindle 18. A selective tensioning means 36' such as ahydraulic cylinder and/or compression spring 37 is disposed in generallyfixed relationship to the head 14 and is in operative engagement, suchas by means of the with piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder, with thefirst portion 32 of the support means 30 there by permitting selectivepositioning within the bore in an axial direction, of the support 30relative to the head 14. The maximum force exerted by the means 36 suchas a hydraulic cylinder on the support 30 can be controlled by varyingthe pressure of the hydraulic fluid or oil. A displacing means 39 suchas a lathe carriage is moveably mounted on the bed 12 generally adjacentthe second end 34 of the support means 30. The displacing means 39 has ashoe or guide 38 beneficially having the form of a grooved roll orsheave which engages the second portion 34 of the roll support 30 anddisplaces it axially about the pivot 35 as depicted in FIG. 1, movementof the means or carriage 39 toward the head 14 through a camming actionof the curved second portion 34 and the shoe 38 causes the end of thesecond portion 34 remote from the pivot 35 to move to a location whereinthe axis of roll 36 is displaced generally normal to the axis of thespindle 16.

In FIG. 2 there is shown a view of the apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 whereinthe displacing means 39 has moved forward to workholder 34 forming aflange 29a on workpiece 29. Note that pivot 35 has moved in thedirection of the displacing means or carriage 39 and the tension meansor cylinder 36 has moved toward the rotating means 14. Beneficially theface 28 is of either planar or convex configuration to produce a flangehaving a corresponding configuration. The apparatus of the invention asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is particularly advantageous when preparingflanged components which require relatively little force such as 3 inchnominal pipe diameter Schedule 40 pipe in a 20 inch lathe (20 inchdiameter swing.)

ln FlG. 3 there is shown an enlarged schematic cut away view of anapparatus a showing details of the pivot 35a forming roll 36a work piece29b prior to formation of the flange such as the 29a. The work piece 29bis within a master 260 which in turn is held in chuck jaws 24a.

FIG. 4 schematically depicts analternate embodiment of the inventiongenerally designated by the reference numeral 40. The apparatus 40 issimilar with the apparatus 10 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 with the exceptionthat the chuck jaws 24a carry the master or pattern 2612 which holds thework piece 290 and plurality of forming rolls 36b and 360 are employed.The roll 36b and 360 are rotatably supported on support members 34b and340 respectively. The support members 34b and 34c are pivotably attachedto member 32a by pivots 35b and 350 respectively. In the foregoingdescription of FIGS. 3 and 4 the alphabetical suffix to the referencenumerals indicates parts of equivalent mechanical function thus chucks24, 24a and 24b are equivalent in function. The embodiment of FIG. 4 isespecially useful when relatively large parts are being flanged bysimultaneously forcing member 34b and 340 apart (by a carriage and/orthe independent means) workpiece 290 is flanged with only minimal radialthrust being placed on the bearings supporting the chuck 24b. In bothvarieties of the invention as shown and described the pivot points suchas the pivot points 35, 35a, 35b, 35c move into and through the plane ofthe formed flange, as the support members 34, 34a, 34b or 340 are movedoutwardly to form the flange using the apparatus and method such as hasbeen herein before described, a wide variety of flanges are easilyprepared.

I claim:

1. in cooperative combination, a work holding means rotatably mountedon, a support means, means to rotate the work holding means, the workholding means defining, a bore passing there through and extending froma first and generally to a second end of the work holding means, thebore being generally coaxially disposed with the axis or rotation of thework holding means, the work holding means having attached thereto, apattern, the pattern having, a pattern surface disposed adjacent thefirst end and remote from the second end the pattern defining, a patternbore generally coaxial with the axis of rotation of the work holdingmeans, the pattern surface having theconfiguration of the back face of adesired flange, a forming roll retaining means positioned within thework holding means, the forming roll retaining means having first andsecond portions, the second portion having a forming roll rotatablysupported thereon, a pivot means joining first and second forming rollmeans portions permitting axial misalingment of the first and secondportions, means to selectively tension the forming roll support meanstoward the second end, means to axially displace the second portion ofthe forming roll support out of 4 axial alignment with the firstportions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a plurality of forming rolls areemployed.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the work holding means and patternare integral.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means to selectively tension isa compression spring.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means to selectively tension isa hydraulic cylinder.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means to selectively tension isa compression spring and a hydraulic cylinder.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the means to axially displace is alathe carriage.

8. A method of flanging a hollow generally cylinderical conduit, thesteps of the method comprising rotatably supporting a hollowcylinderical conduit about a resiliently tensioned pivot means locatedwithin said conduit, said pivot means resiliently tensioned and moveablein an axial direction, rotating the conduit and applying a generallyradial force to one inner edge there of by means of a forming rollsupported on a lever pivotally attached to said pivot, and displacingsaid lever away from the axis of generation and rotation of said conduituntil a flange of desired configuration is obtained.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the lever is displaced sufficiently toform a flange on the conduit extending generally radially out-wardly.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the pivot is moved axially in adirection generally toward the lever as the lever is axially displaced.

l l. The method of claim 8 wherein two forming rolls and two levers areemployed and each lever is displaced generally away from each othergenerally in the place of the axis of rotation.

1. In cooperative combination, a work holding means rotatably mountedon, a support means, means to rotate the work holding means, the workholding means defining, a bore passing there through and extending froma first and generally to a second end of the work holding means, thebore being generally coaxially disposed with the axis or rotation of thework holding means, the work holding means having attached thereto, apattern, the pattern having, a pattern surface disposed adjacent thefirst end and remote from the second end the pattern defining, a patternbore generally coaxial with the axis of rotation of the work holdingmeans, the pattern surface having the configuration of the back face ofa desired flange, a forming roll retaining means positioned within thework holding means, the forming roll retaining means having first andsecond portions, the second portion having a forming roll rotatablysupported thereon, a pivot means joining first and second forming rollmeans portions permitting axial misalingment of the first and secondportions, means to selectively tension the forming roll support meanstoward the second end, means to axially displace the second portion ofthe forming roll support out of axial alignment with the first portions.2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a plurality of forming rolls areemployed.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the work holding means andpattern are integral.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means toselectively tension is a compression spring.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the means to selectively tension is a hydraulic cylinder.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the means to selectively tension is acompression spring and a hydraulic cylinder.
 7. The method of claim 1wherein the means to axially displace is a lathe carriage.
 8. A methodof flanging a hollow generally cylinderical conduit, the steps of themethod comprising rotatably supporting a hollow cylinderical conduitabout a resiliently tensioned pivot means located within said conduit,said pivot means resiliently tensioned and moveable in an axialdirection, rotating the conduit and applying a generally radial force toone inner edge there of by means of a forming roll supported on a leverpivotally attached to said pivot, and displacing said lever away fromthe axis of generation and rotation of said conduit until a flange ofdesired configuration is obtained.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein thelever is displaced sufficiently to form a flange on the conduitextending generally radially out-wardly.
 10. The method of claim 8wherein the pivot is moved axially in a directiOn generally toward thelever as the lever is axially displaced.
 11. The method of claim 8wherein two forming rolls and two levers are employed and each lever isdisplaced generally away from each other generally in the place of theaxis of rotation.